Shanghai Daily: Business - shanghaidaily.com
BAIN Capital Partners' US$2.2 billion acquisition of 3Com Corp is expected to be finalized by the end of the first quarter, though the deal is being investigated by the US regulator because of a Chinese firm's involvement, the US-based private investment firm said yesterday. Bain Capital announced in September its plan to acquire the US-based telecom equipment firm 3Com. As part of the transaction, Huawei plans to acquire a minority interest in 3Com. The US regulator intervened later citing "national security" because 3Com's clients include the Pentagon and other US bureaus. "It is just a deal between two US companies and many steps can be taken to avoid a 'China connection' to the 3Com's sensitive clients," said Jing Huang, Bain Capital's managing director, who was attending the China Venture Capital Annual Forum 2007 in Shanghai. Huawei will acquire the 3Com's stake, 16 percent as reported, through Huawei Tech Investment, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary and it